Kent State Golden Flashes vs Ball State Cardinals Weekend Recap

Game One: Cardinals win 16-5

The Cardinals crushed the ball all day long as evidenced by the five home runs they hit as a team. In fact, they scored their first six runs of the game via the long ball. The Flashes jumped out to the early lead posting two runs in the top of the first inning on a Zarley Zalewski two-run home run.That would be the only time the Flashes ever lead the game.

The Cardinals wasted no time responding to the early deficit. Alex Call struck first with a solo home run. Sean Godfrey followed suit with a two-run shot of his own in the first to give the Cardinals the 3-1 lead.

T.J. Weir picked up his seventh win of the season really settling in after the two-run bomb in the first. Weir lasted 6.2 innings striking out 9 while allowing three runs. In the fifth inning the Cardinals really distanced themselves on the scoreboard when Alex Maloney sent a three run home run over the left field wall.

T.J. Sutton would close the deficit to three in the sixth with an RBI single, but it was the closest the flashes would ever come to the Cardinals. The Cardinals would tack on four more runs in the bottom of the sixth highlights by a Kyle Ryleigh three-run home run which ultimately put the game out of reach. The Flashes pieced together two more runs before Kyle Spaulding hit a grand slam to make sure the game stayed out of reach for good.

Game Two: Cardinals win 5-4

The Cardinals opened the scoring in the third with an RBI single by Ryan Spaulding. Jarrett Lindfleisch added two more when he doubled to right field. With a 3-0 lead the Cardinals looked poised to break game two open again. The Flashes did not want any part of that and responded immediately with two runs in the top of the fourth.

Jeff Revesz and Curtis Olvey each drove in a run to close the lead to one run. Zalewski would add another run in the fifth with an RBI single to tie things at three. Jon Wilson collected three hits in the game but none were bigger than his RBI double in the ninth to give the Flashes a 4-3 lead. With the MAC's leading closer on the bump in the ninth the Flashes looked as though they would even this series at one game a piece.

A costly error on a pop up put Eric Dorsch in a bad spot. With the bases loaded Dorsch walked in the game tying run. Sean Kennedy put the crowd on its feet when he delivered a walk off rbi single to center field ending the game and giving the Cardinals a comeback victory.

Game Three: Cardinals win 9-8

Once again, the Cardinals were clearly saving their best for last. Kyle Spaulding put the Cardinals on top 1-0 with a double to deep center field in the bottom of the first. The Flashes would respond quickly as Troy Summers grounded into a double play to tie it at one.

Zalewski and Monnot would both deliver RBI singles in the third to give the Flashes a 3-1 lead. The Cardinals wasted no time retying the game 3-3 when Jarrett Reindfleisch and Sean Kennedy each plated an RBI with singles. The Flashes struck next and would hold onto the lead until the very end yet again. Monnot and T.J. Sutton each hit solo home runs to extend the lead to two. An error in the seventh plated another run to extend the Flashes lead to three. Ryan Spaulding closed the deficit to one with a two-run double in the bottom of the inning. Wild pitches would plate two more runs for the Flashes giving them a three-run lead entering the bottom of the ninth.

Once again, Dorsch would enter the game and blow the lead. Nine batters and three singles later, the Cardinals plated four runs to end the game and complete a three-game sweep.